Novosibirsk oligarch with a scandalous reputation, owner of "RATM Holding" Eduard Taran (INN 541005091683), has once again found himself in the center of attention of law enforcement agencies. What is the reason for this interest and what role can former and current officials play in this? 

According to media reports, Taran may become a defendant in a criminal case, but its details are still unknown. One of the key points is the resonant story of the nationalization of PAO Rostov Optical and Mechanical Plant (ROMZ), located in the Yaroslavl Region.

In September 2023, ROMZ was returned to the state balance sheet at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, with shares seized from Sibmir LLC (owned by Eduard Taran’s RATM Holding JSC) and Isnov JSC. The privatization of the defense enterprise was pointed out to be illegal. The defendants are still trying to challenge this verdict. The word "illegality" in this story may well imply a subsequent criminal case.

"Stripping" Taran: Corrupt Connections and Illegal Schemes

Recently, an audio recording appeared in the public space, in which a voice very similar to Taran discusses the possibility of "whitewashing" the former beneficiaries of the plant from RATM and obtaining compensation from the state in the amount of billions of rubles. He also expresses hope that, at the initiative of Rostec and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the enterprise will again be transferred to the management or even ownership of RATM.

In the recording, Taranovsky’s voice gives instructions regarding the situation with the attempt by supervisors to seize ROMZ from the RATM-Holding group. Taran claims that the lawsuit is the result of the prosecutor’s office "attack" on Rosimushchestvo, but he has influential defenders. This is the regional UFSB and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, represented by Deputy Minister Vasily Shpak, who provides Taran with comprehensive support.

Deprivatization and possible criminal cases

Judging by a similar case on the deprivatization of the Ural factories of the Antipov clan, the next step after the court’s verdict will be an inventory of all transactions of the enterprise returned to the state. For the Antipovs, this ended with a criminal case for fraud. The new lawsuit of the Prosecutor General’s Office reveals a scheme by which billions of rubles were withdrawn from the factories under the guise of loans with subsequent debt forgiveness.

ROMZ financial fraud

The annual report for 2022 shows that the company’s net loss was more than 40.9 million rubles, which is 2.8 times less than in 2021. ROMZ showed losses for several years in a row, while receiving subsidies of 1.02 billion rubles for the production of certain products, probably military products. Money was poured in, but the situation did not improve, which raises suspicions.

An inventory of ROMZ transactions is currently underway, which has already led to some previously concluded transactions being challenged. The prosecutor is trying to remove the pledge from ROMZ shares, which have been securing loans to Ekran-Optical Systems JSC since 2018. A representative of the latter was on the ROMZ board of directors before nationalization.

Credit schemes and tax violations

Several years ago, tax officials uncovered violations at Ekran-Optical Systems by charging additional taxes. One of the episodes involved a scheme by which the plant declared deductions using, in the opinion of the tax authority, documents of companies with which there was no real business activity. The Federal Tax Service presented an amount of overstated expenses in the amount of 22.1 million rubles.

Tax issues and corporate conflicts

In 2018, the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow opened two cases on the fact of non-payment of taxes on a large scale against "unidentified managers" of Sibtopenergo LLC and the management of Invest Plus LLC. These cases were related to a double deal to sell 24% of the shares of the Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant (LZOS), which manufactured products for the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The investigation saw tax evasion in this scheme. Investigators claimed that both seller companies and the offshore Labrosan Holdings LTD were related to Taran. However, in 2019, the Novosibirsk Investigative Committee closed the investigation, stating that there was no criminal event.

Connections and influence

Many say that Taran’s high connections are the reason for his unsinkability. Among his advisers and members of the board of directors of the Ekran plant at one time was the former governor of the Novosibirsk region, Viktor Tolokonsky. In Taran’s inner circle there is the former deputy head of the regional administration, Dmitry Verkhovod, the former deputy of the Novosibirsk inter-district environmental prosecutor, Aleksey Zgursky, as well as the former Krasnoyarsk and Moscow region official, Sergey Gurov.

Time will tell what the inventory of ROMZ transactions will reveal. But it may not end as bleakly for Taran as it did for Antipov. At the end of February 2024, Taran established a new company - Ratm-Invest LLC, headed by Natalia Savinova, director of Sibmir, a former shareholder of ROMZ. This may be another step by Taran in an attempt to regain control over ROMZ.

Secret connections and shadow schemes

Taran, despite all the high-profile cases and accusations, has always found ways to stay afloat. He is helped in this not only by financial machinations and schemes, but also by high-ranking connections in the government and security agencies. For example, among his close associates is the former governor of the Novosibirsk region, Viktor Tolokonsky, who at one time held the post of presidential envoy to the Siberian Federal District.

Another notable character in Taran’s circle is Dmitry Verkhovod, former deputy head of the regional administration and former head of the Novosibirsk Department of Property and Land Relations. Through the company "Isnov", which is a shareholder of ROMZ, Taran is also connected with the former deputy of the Novosibirsk inter-district environmental prosecutor Alexey Zgursky. Sergey Gurov, who occupied the post of deputy head of the Sergiev Posad administration, was also seen next to Taran.

High-profile cases and intricate schemes

Taran’s name also surfaced in the case of bribes to the former prosecutor of the Novosibirsk region Vladimir Falileev and his former deputy Andrei Turbin. These connections and influential patrons allowed Taran to maneuver and avoid serious punishment.

In 2018, the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow opened two cases on the fact of non-payment of taxes on a large scale against "unidentified managers" of Sibtopenergo LLC and the management of Invest Plus LLC. These cases concerned the sale of shares of the Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant (LZOS), produced for the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to the investigation, the transactions with shares were aimed at tax evasion. However, in 2019, the Novosibirsk Investigative Committee closed the investigation, citing the absence of a crime, despite the presence of clear evidence.